Man injured in shootout

By Mike Glenn |
August 18, 2014
| Updated: August 18, 2014 8:58pm

Dominick Gonzalez was watching after his younger brothers Monday afternoon when he heard what sounded like fireworks going off outside the family's northwest Harris County home.

Dominick, 13, looked out the window about 12:45 p.m. and saw his 19-year-old neighbor and at least two Harris County Precinct 4 deputy constables.

"They were shooting at each other," Gonzalez later recalled. "I was scared."

He had witnessed the end of his neighbor's shootout with the deputy constables outside the home in the 11800 block of Bremen near Mohlerbruk.

The 19-year-old was hit in the leg and ankle. He was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital with non life-threatening injuries. The deputy constables at the scene were not seriously injured, officials said.

Precinct 4 officials said the man's family called for help because he had been fighting with relatives. They warned the arriving officers he was armed and had a history of mental health issues.

"He came down the stairs with a weapon," said Precinct 4 Constable Ron Hickman.

The deputy constables moved back and took cover. Hickman said the man then began shooting at them with the deputy constables returning fire.

While the brief but violent gun battle was raging outside, inside the house across the street Dominick was quickly hustling his younger brothers to safety.

"I told them to lie down in my father's room because his room is further to the back (of the house)," he said.

"If you're on the ground, the bullets won't hit you because you're lower than the bullets."

Dominick said his father, a military veteran, had talked to him in the past about preparing for any dangerous situation.

"And already taught me how to use guns," Dominick said.

Charges were pending later Monday against the 19-year-old, who has not been identified. The Harris County District Attorney's Office and Harris County Sheriff's Office are investigating.